Eastern Michigan’s “Back to Bowen” event is going back to the Convocation Center.

The athletic department’s announced Monday that plans to play three of its November basketball games in Bowen Field House has been scrapped due to “unanticipated issues” with the facility.

"Bowen is a place rich in tradition, but the 15 years that have passed since the venue was used for basketball were creating too many challenges,” EMU athletic director Heather Lyke said in a statement. “In moving the games to the Convocation Center, we look forward to providing a remarkable experience in the Mid-American Conference for our student-athletes, fans, donors and alumni."

Athletic department spokesperson Greg Steiner said Tuesday that the building had flooded since a game was last staged there in 2004, and when a new track and floor were installed the building's layout changed.

That complicated the process of installing bleachers, and would have required fans to sit farther away from the floor than before. The building's dated electrical system was also causing issues, Steiner said. In the end, a diminished fan experience and increased cost for staging the game led to Eastern's decision to abandon the plan.

“It was kind of just a little bit of everything was starting to add up,” Steiner said.

The Eagles announced in late August that they planned on playing men’s games on Nov. 12 and Nov. 14 against Concordia and Robert Morris, respectively, at the school’s Bowen Field House, along with the women’s team’s Nov. 13 game against Butler. Those games will now be played at the school’s regular venue, the Convocation Center.

Bowen Field House served as the basketball team’s venue from 1955-97, and is still used by the school's track and wrestling teams.

"I apologize to all that were anticipating this event," EMU men’s coach Rob Murphy said in a statement. "We hope to get all of our students, alumni, fans and donors to the Convocation Center to cheer us on for our 17 home contests as we prepare to fight for a MAC Championship."